Venice- Port Information
Arriving and Getting Around-
Walking- Ships dock at Maritima Port, which is within walking distance from Piazzale Roma, a free shuttle bus is offered on Sat, Sun and Monday. There is also a People Mover which is what I would recommend and goes between Maritima Port and Piazzale Roma. (Like a monorail) It is 1 euro and leaves often. If you have any more questions, here is a great site. Once at Piazzale Roma, you can cross the Calatrava bridge to walk into Venice. From there, you just follow the signs that say P.San Marco. or Rialto.
By Vaporetto- If you are in a hurry to get to Piazza San Marco, take the vaporetto from Piazzale Roma, following the same directions as above to Piazzale Roma, all the way down the Grand Canal. It will still take about 45 minutes on vaporetto #1, but is quicker than walking. It costs 6.50 euros for a one-way trip and 16 euros for an all-day ticket.
For our opinions on Venice, click here for our Venice Port Review Page.
What to Do
St. Mark's Basilica- Free: Open 9:30-5. Beautiful byzantine church holding the remains of Mark from the Gospel. Mosaics cover the entire church. The line tends to get very long even before it opens. For 1 euro, you can reserve a time to enter, skipping the line, by visiting this website. Inside the church, there are some things you might want to pay to see. The alterpiece and a closer view of St. Mark's tomb costs 2 euros, and the museum with the horses which once stood outside Alexander the Great's palace costs 4 euros. I felt these extra expenditures were worth it since the church was free. The church is nowhere near as big as it is beautiful, so it can get crammed. Watch your purses and wallets as this tends to be the worst place for pickpockets in Venice.
Doge's Palace- Cost 12 euros. Open 9-7 in summer, and 9-6 from Nov 11- March 21. Your ticket gets you entrance to the palace, which includes a visit to the prison via the Bridge of Sighs. (Yep, you get to cross it.) I would recommend renting an audio guide if you know nothing about Doges or Venice. The art is amazing, and there are Titians around every corner that you might not know are there. This is the single most impressive palace I have ever seen and is a must-do, even though it is pricey. It is worth it.
Correr Museum- Cost: included in the price of your Doge's Palace ticket. Not worth it on its own. Open 10-6. I only wrote this to tell you to not waste your time unless you look at the website and see something that you just simply MUST see. We used it as a free bathroom in St Mark's Square, but even that was more of a walk than it was worth.
Frari Church (Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari)- Cost 3 euros or 10 euros for chorus pass which covers 16 churches in Venice. One of the most beautiful churches in Venice which contains works by Titian and Bellini. Closer to the train station than most attractions.
Scuola di San Rocco- Cost 7 euros. Open 9:30-5:30. Basically, the Venetian Sistine Chapel painted by Tintoretto. They have mirrors so people won't strain their necks looking up at the art. Also contains sculpture and art by other artists. Very close to the Frari church.
Gallerie Dell'Accademia- Cost 6.50 euros. Open Monday 8:15-2, Tues-Sun 8:15-7:15. Large art museum with works by Veronese, Tintoretto, Titian, Bellini and more. Across the Accademia bridge from area near Piazza San Marco.
Guggenheim Museum- Cost 12 euros. Open 10-6. Closed Tuesday. Modern art museum with Picasso, Klee, Pollack and more. Peggy Guggenheim's residence in Venice now houses the museum.
Chorus Pass- 10 euros or 20 euros for a family (2 adults and children). Churches open 10-5. Pass is good for a year. Admission for 16 churches around Venice. (Listed on site in link)
Walking- Ships dock at Maritima Port, which is within walking distance from Piazzale Roma, a free shuttle bus is offered on Sat, Sun and Monday. There is also a People Mover which is what I would recommend and goes between Maritima Port and Piazzale Roma. (Like a monorail) It is 1 euro and leaves often. If you have any more questions, here is a great site. Once at Piazzale Roma, you can cross the Calatrava bridge to walk into Venice. From there, you just follow the signs that say P.San Marco. or Rialto.
By Vaporetto- If you are in a hurry to get to Piazza San Marco, take the vaporetto from Piazzale Roma, following the same directions as above to Piazzale Roma, all the way down the Grand Canal. It will still take about 45 minutes on vaporetto #1, but is quicker than walking. It costs 6.50 euros for a one-way trip and 16 euros for an all-day ticket.
For our opinions on Venice, click here for our Venice Port Review Page.
What to Do
St. Mark's Basilica- Free: Open 9:30-5. Beautiful byzantine church holding the remains of Mark from the Gospel. Mosaics cover the entire church. The line tends to get very long even before it opens. For 1 euro, you can reserve a time to enter, skipping the line, by visiting this website. Inside the church, there are some things you might want to pay to see. The alterpiece and a closer view of St. Mark's tomb costs 2 euros, and the museum with the horses which once stood outside Alexander the Great's palace costs 4 euros. I felt these extra expenditures were worth it since the church was free. The church is nowhere near as big as it is beautiful, so it can get crammed. Watch your purses and wallets as this tends to be the worst place for pickpockets in Venice.
Doge's Palace- Cost 12 euros. Open 9-7 in summer, and 9-6 from Nov 11- March 21. Your ticket gets you entrance to the palace, which includes a visit to the prison via the Bridge of Sighs. (Yep, you get to cross it.) I would recommend renting an audio guide if you know nothing about Doges or Venice. The art is amazing, and there are Titians around every corner that you might not know are there. This is the single most impressive palace I have ever seen and is a must-do, even though it is pricey. It is worth it.
Correr Museum- Cost: included in the price of your Doge's Palace ticket. Not worth it on its own. Open 10-6. I only wrote this to tell you to not waste your time unless you look at the website and see something that you just simply MUST see. We used it as a free bathroom in St Mark's Square, but even that was more of a walk than it was worth.
Frari Church (Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari)- Cost 3 euros or 10 euros for chorus pass which covers 16 churches in Venice. One of the most beautiful churches in Venice which contains works by Titian and Bellini. Closer to the train station than most attractions.
Scuola di San Rocco- Cost 7 euros. Open 9:30-5:30. Basically, the Venetian Sistine Chapel painted by Tintoretto. They have mirrors so people won't strain their necks looking up at the art. Also contains sculpture and art by other artists. Very close to the Frari church.
Gallerie Dell'Accademia- Cost 6.50 euros. Open Monday 8:15-2, Tues-Sun 8:15-7:15. Large art museum with works by Veronese, Tintoretto, Titian, Bellini and more. Across the Accademia bridge from area near Piazza San Marco.
Guggenheim Museum- Cost 12 euros. Open 10-6. Closed Tuesday. Modern art museum with Picasso, Klee, Pollack and more. Peggy Guggenheim's residence in Venice now houses the museum.
Chorus Pass- 10 euros or 20 euros for a family (2 adults and children). Churches open 10-5. Pass is good for a year. Admission for 16 churches around Venice. (Listed on site in link)
